M4M 5K Purchases Four 3D Printers to Chicago Public Schools and More

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Proceeds from the Miles for Manufacturing (M4M) 5K race held during IMTS 2016, raised enough funds to purchase four MakerGear 3D printers for Chicago Public STEM Schools and $8000 to Chicago-based community organizations, which use project-based learning to prepare students for STEM careers.

IMTS and GIE Media sponsor the M4M 5K race series where 100 percent of the runner registration fees goes toward school programs that prepare students for careers in manufacturing. On Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2016, more than 300 IMTS registrants participated to raise funds for the Chicago STEM programs.

The four MakerGear 3D printers went to the following STEM-focused Chicago public schools, which also attended the Smartforce Student Summit at IMTS 2016.

George Leland Elementary School

Genevieve Melody Elementary STEM School

Langston Hughes Elementary School

Daniel S. Wentworth Elementary School

Genevieve Melody Elementary STEM School students work on a culminating project-based lesson with a MakerGear 3D printer donated by the funds raised at the M4M 5K during IMTS 2016 in Chicago, Ill.
The lesson focused on increasing voter turnout and included the students designing and creating an "I VOTED" pin using the MakerGear 3D printer. Every teacher that showed proof of voting received an "I VOTED" pin.

“3D printing in our classroom has elevated the significance of using the engineering design process and applying the five STEM habits at Melody Elementary,” said Chicago Public School teacher James Harris. “The fascination of bringing an idea into existence makes learning more fun and meaningful for students. It also gives teachers and students the opportunity to strengthen critical thinking skills and learn about physical computing and fabrication as well as STEM-related careers. 3D printing in our school has captivated the attention of all learners and transformed the way that most students think when it comes to expanding on ideas.”

M4M gave $3,000 to the Chicago Public Library Foundation for YouMedia, a 21st century teen learning space filled with digital media technology, and $5,000 to Project SYNCERE, a Chicago-based community organization that uses project-based learning to prepare underserved and underrepresented students for STEM careers.

Why are manufacturers supporting STEM programs?

Manufactures understand the value of their industry to a healthy economy. “The U.S. manufacturing’s value chain accounts for about 1/3 of GDP and employment in the U.S. For each full-time manufacturing job created, 3/4 full-time jobs are created in nonmanufacturing industries. For every $1 of domestic manufacturing value-added, another $3.60 of value-added is generated elsewhere,” says Douglas K. Woods, president of AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology, which owns and operates IMTS, North America’s largest advanced technology trade show.

It is estimated that two million manufacturing jobs will go unfilled if more young people don’t seek an education in STEM and a career in manufacturing, according to the Boston Consulting Group and Deloitte for The Manufacturing Institute.